Air distribution control outlet



May 8, 1962 1.. R. PHILLIPS AIR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL OUTLET 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1959 F1G.l.

INVENTOR "lllllllnv .HHHIIII" lEONARD R. PHLLL 1P5 FIG. 2.

May 8, 1962 L. R. PHILLIPS 3,033,097

AIR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL OUTLET Filed Sept. 8, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 3.

May 8, 1962 1.. R. PHILLIPS AIR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL OUTLET 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1959 FIG. 5

May 8, 1962 L. R. PHILLIPS AIR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL OUTLET 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 8, 1959 INVENTOR LEONARD R PHLLLIPS 3,033,097Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,097 AIR DISTRIBUTION CONTROL OUTLET LeonardR. Phillips, West Hartford, Conn, assignor to Anemostat Corporation ofAmerica, New York, N. a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 8, 1959,Ser. No. 838,550 7 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates generallyto air distribution outlets and more particularly to an air outlet ofthe diffuser type having provision for controlling the pattern of thedischarging air flow.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an air outletparticularly adapted for installation in ceilings of air-conditioned orheated enclosures.

Another more specific object of this invention is to provide an airoutlet having novel adjustable means for selectively directing the flowof the primary supply air in one or more directions, and for controllingor regulating the volume of diffused air discharged by the outlet in anyor all directions.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved supportingmeans for the adjustable deflector members enabling rapid and eflicientcleaning of the entire outlet assembly including the connecting supplyneck, by unskilled labor, without the possibility of the adjustment ofthe deflectors being disturbed from the desired setting.

Still another object is to provide an air outlet according to theinvention and having deflector members of improved design forcontrolling the pattern of discharging air throughout the entire 360perimeter of the outlet.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel pivotal means formounting the deflectors, permitting their adjustment, and retaining themin the desired angular setting.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the air control outlet,according to the invention, installed within an opening in an enclosure,the view being taken along the line 11 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the invention with the perforateddiffuser plate partly broken away to more clearly illustrate thearrangement of the deflectors.

FiGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view, partly in section, showing theunderside of the deflector supports as well as the pivotal attachmentmeans therefor.

FIGURE 4 is a top perspective view looking down on the constructionillustrated in FIGURE 3 and shows the deflectors arranged to deliver aparticular air diffusion pattern.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are partial top perspective views with portions of theneck and casing broken away to illustrate various adjustments of thedeflectors to provide different air diflusion patterns.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the invention illustrating a modifiedarrangement of deflectors for a rectangular form of the invention.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings it will be noted thateven though most of the views disclose a square shaped outlet, it willbe understood that the invention is not limited to this design. As shownin FIG- URE 7, the invention may be incorporated in a rectangular shapedoutlet having a length and width of any suitable proportions. Theselection of the shape of outlet ticular air distribution requirementsfor that specific 10-.

cation, as will be further described hereinafter.

As will be most clearly seen in FIGURE 1, the main body of the diffusingair outlet consists of a casing generally designated as 1, and formed inthe shape of a fruscated rectangular pyramid having sloping side walls2. The top portion of the casing 1 terminates in an upturned collar 3,which is suitably connected, as by spot welding, to a neck extension 4leading to a branch duct 5 of the primary supply air system.

The lower portions of the inclined walls 2 are preformed to provide ahorizontal recessed bearing surface 6 surrounded by a curved peripheralflange 7.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a suggested form of installation wherein the casing1 is supported by and attached to the branch air supply duct 5 by meansof a neck extension 4 of the necessary length to properly position theoutlet within the opening 9 in the ceiling lit of the enclosure. The endportion 8 of the curved peripheral flange 7 abuts securely against theexposed under-surface of the ceiling ltl to provide an attractive andairtight seal of the outlet within the opening 9.

The invention is not limited to the specific form of mounting flange 7illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. The peripheralportion 7 of thecasing 1 may be constructed in any other suitable shapein order to provide other forms of mounting of the outlets such as forflush mounting within an acoustical tile ceiling. A

Novel means are provided within the casing 1 to direct the incomingsupply air into selected discharge patterns.

Disposed within the confines of the casing 1 are four deflector plates dd d and d of suitable flat rigid material such as sheet metal. Thesedeflectors are suspended from a pair of crossed support strapsdesignated generally as 11 and 12. The straps comprise horizontalsections 13 which meet at the center vertical axis of the outlet andextend substantially across the width of the neck opening 14 of thecasing 1, and downwardly projecting foot portions 15 disposed parallelto the plane of the side walls 2. The supports 11 and 12 are attached tothe casing by means of readily removable fasteners, such as slottedself-tapping screws 16 which pass through the toot portions 15 into theside walls 2, to rigidly secure the support strap assembly within thecasing.

U-shaped hangers 17 depend from each of the radially extending sections13 of the support straps 11 and 12. The upper ends 18 of the hangers 17are connected to the support straps 1-1 and 12 by suitable means such asby welding. The lower hinge bars 19 of the hangers 17 are suspended in arigid horizontal position by rods 20 of the hangers 17. The purpose ofthe bars 19 is to provide a fixed point about which the deflector platesmay be pivoted, as will be described immediately hereinafter.

FIGURE 3 most clearly shows the means for adjustably supporting thedeflectors. Each of the deflectors d d d and d has a top air directingsurface 21 and a bottom surface 22. Each deflector is pivotally attachedto the hinge bar 19 of one of the U-shaped hangers 17 by means of abearing clip 23 which urges the bar 19 against the top surface 21 of thedeflector plate. The clips 23 are of such design as to cause arelatively tight frictional engagement between the deflectors and hingebars 19, so that a deliberate eifort is required to manually change thedeflectors from one posit-ion to another. In other words, the bearingarrangement is such that the adjustment of the deflectors will not bechanged by a sudden discharge of high pressure high Velocity air throughthe outlet.

In the square form of outlet, all the deflectors d d d and d aretriangular in shape and as will be seen most 3 clearly in FIGURE 2, eachdeflector controls a 90 area, or one-fourth of the total discharge areaof the outlet. It will therefore be apparent that each deflector is aright isosceles triangle having a right angle vertex 24 opposite itsbottom edge 25.

The deflectors are large enough so that the bottom edges will engage theside walls 2 of the casing when the deflectors are in the closedposition. FIGURE 6 illustrates deflectors d and d in the closedposition, whereby the bottom edges 25 form a seal with the adjacent sidewalls 2.

A nominal amount of air space 26 will appear between the deflectorplates (FIGURE 2) when the deflectors are in the fully open or fullyclosed positions. This permits the vertices of the plates to clear oneanother when two or more plates are adjusted in a horizontal positionwherein the vertices most nearly pass through the center vertical axisof the outlet.

FIGURES l and 2 show the outlet with all four deflector plates d d d andd in the open position. In this position all of the incoming supply airpassing through the neck extension enters the casing and impinges uponthe top surfaces 21 of the four deflectors. The top surface 21 of eachdeflector, together with the oppositely disposed side wall 2, forms adownwardly inclined passageway 27 through which all of the air strikingeach deflector is directed.

It will therefore be apparent that when all of the deflectors are open,the total volume of supply air entering the casing will be equallydivided between the four passageways 27 and therefore equal volumes ofair will be concurrently discharged through all four sides of the outletto provide a 360 distribution of air.

Diffusion of the discharging supply air is achieved through use of aperforated diffuser plate 28, most clearly shown in FIGURE 1. Thediffuser 28 extends to cover the entire lower opening of the casing 1and is provided with suitable quick release retaining means such asspring catches 29 located on opposite sides of the diffuser. The edgesof the diffuser fit freely within the recess formed by the flange 7 andrecessed surface 6 of the casing.

In order to retain the diffuser 28 in the normal operating positionshown in FIGURE 1, the two opposite sides of the casing are providedwith openings 3% in the bearing surface 6 to receive the prongs 31 ofthe spring catches 2?. As most clearly shown in FIGURE 5, each catch 29consists of a pair of upstanding prongs 31 joined to a base member 32disposed on the underside of the diffuser. An off-set portion adjacentthe base member 32 provides an outwardly projecting shoulder 33 on thelower part of each prong 31 so that when the diffuser is placed over theopening of the outlet and the prongs are inserted into the openings 30,the diffuser is pushed upwardly until it abuts the recessed surface 6 atwhich time the shoulders 33 on the resilient spring prongs 31 willspring outwardly and away from each other to engage the sides of theopenings to retain the diffuser in place.

Means must be provided in all air distribution outlets to allow periodicservicing of the unit. Such servicing includes, for all outlets, regularremoval of the collection of dust that accumulates upon all surfaceswhich come in contact with the supply air. In most outlets this cleaningcan be accomplished by merely wiping the surfaces within the unit with acloth or suitable brushes. However, in the present invention, means mustbe provided for safely removing the diffuser and for protecting theadjustment of the deflector plates when it is desired to clean theinside of the casing.

Accordingly, each prong 31 of the spring catches 29 is provided with anoutwardly projecting angle portion 34 at its upper end so that whenremoving the diffuser to clean the unit or to change the adjustment ofthe deflectors, it is necessary to merely pull down on the diffuser withonly enough effort to overcome the resiliency of the prongs 31 to causethe shoulders 33 to become disengaged from the openings 30. When this isaccomplished, the diffuser will automatically drop a short distanceuntil the angle portions 34 of the catches 29 abut the upper portion ofthe bearing surface 6. Thus there is no possibility of the diffuseraccidentally falling on the service man or dropping to the floor andbeing damaged.

To completely remove the difluser, the hand is inserted between thesuspended diffuser and the casing and the two prongs 31 of each catchare compressed towards one another to allow the angle portions 34 to bepulled through the respective openings 30.

With the diffuser removed, the interior of the outlet will now appearsomewhat like the view shown in FIG- URE 2. It will be seen thatregardless of the adjusted position of the deflectors, the self-tappingfasteners 16 retaining the support straps 11 and 12 will be readilyaccessible. Removal of these fasteners will enable one to quickly removethe entire deflector assembly from the unit. In this way it will be arelatively easy and quick matter to clean the casing and neck extensionof the outlet as well as to separately clean the deflector assemblywithout altering the adjustment of the deflector blades.

Five basic diffusion patterns may be obtained from the square form ofoutlet shown in FIGURES 1-6. As previousl, described, FIGURE 1 disclosesa four-way discharge pattern wherein the supply air is equally diffusedthroughout a 360 area of the outlet. To obtain this pattern, all fourdeflectors are pivoted with their vertices 24 at the uppermost limit,thereby placing the lower edges 25 adjacent the bottom opening of thecasing.

A three-way discharge pattern may be obtained by closing one deflectorand leaving the other three open such as shown in FIGURE 5, whereindeflector d is closed and deflectors d 1 and d are open. The bottom edge25 of each deflector is provided with a notch 25a adapted to surroundthe foot portion 15 of the supports 11 and 12 when the deflector isfully closed. In this manner the bottom edge 25 will engage the adjacentside wall 2 of the casing and form a seal to prevent the passage ofsupply air over the closed deflector. Thus it will be seen that the airimpinging upon the top surface 21 of deflectors (P, d and d will bedirected through passageways 27 to the diffuser plate 28, whereupon itwill be diffused through three sides of the outlet into the enclosure.The air impinging upon the surface 21 of the closed deflector d will,for the most part, be directed back up into the upper part of the casingdue to the closing off of the respective passageway 27.

Attached to the equilateral sides of each deflector are a pair ofupturned flanges 35 which join at the vertex 24 to form a pocket. Itwill be seen that when a deflector is in the closed position, the airthat does reach the vertex area of the closed deflector will beentrapped within this pocket and act as a cushion to support the air inthis area so that no air will be discharged straight downwardly throughthe diffuser 28.

The diffusion pattern just described wherein three deflectors are openand one is closed provides a 270 discharge of diffused air from theoutlet. This form of ad justment may be particularly desirable when anoutlet is located near one wall of an enclosure. In such an installationthe deflector immediately opposite the near wall would be closed topermit the outlet to diffuse all of the supply air through the remainingthree open deflectors to achieve the most eflicient air distribution tothe enclosure.

In an installation where the outlet is located near the corner of aceiling the deflectors may be adjusted as shown in FIGURE 4 to achievethe most efficient air distribution. The deflectors d d adjacent thenearest walls are closed so that the full discharge of the supply airwill be through the open deflectors d d In an installation wherein theoutlet is located in a long, narrow enclosure the deflectors may bearranged as in FIGURE 6 where deflectors d d are opened and d d areclosed. In such a situation the opposed open deflectors would dischargethe supply air into the longer dimension of the enclosure while theclosed deflectors would prevent the wasteful and undesirable dischargeof air against the two walls nearest the outlet.

Considering the preceding example of a long narrow enclosure, it will beobserved that if the outlet were located near one end of the ceiling,then distribution of the supply air to the far end of the enclosurewould be readily achieved by closing all the deflectors except the onedischarging towards the far end of the enclosure.

A four-way diffusion pattern wherein all four of the deflectors are openwould be employed whenever the outlet is located within a largeenclosure or centrally located with respect to other outlets or thewalls of an enclosure.

The shape of an enclosure and the respective location of an outlet donot always dictate which will be the most desirable diffusion pattern.The adjustment of the deflectors will often be determined by theintended use of the enclosure. If the enclosure is to be occuplied bypersonnel in one particular area it may be desirable to supply a greateramount of air towards that area. Also, if sensitive equipment, forexample, is being stored in one area of an enclosure, it is a simplematter to readjust the deflectors to discharge more or less air intothat particular area, according to the storage requirements of theequipment.

The present invention may be adapted in a rectangular shaped outlet asshown in FIGURE 7 when, for example, it is desired to distribute largervolumes of air from a single outlet.

The construction of the casing, neck extension, and

perforated difluser plate is similar to the square form of outlet exceptthat these components are extended along one dimension to form arectangular unit having as long a neck opening and diffuser plate as isrequired.

The casing comprises a pair of oppositely disposed short side walls 36,36 and a pairof long side walls 37, 37. A pair of deflectors R Rcooperate with the short walls 36 respectively, to control thedistribution of supply air from the short sides of the outlet. Thesedeflectors are similar to deflectors d d d d in that each is shaped likean isosceles triangle and has a base 25 adapted to seal off the upperportion of the adjacent short side wall 36. A pair of deflectors R Rshaped like isosceles trapezoids are disposed in cooperatingrelationship with the long side walls 37, 37 to regulate the dischargeof the supply air from the long sides of the outlet.

The deflectors R R are suspended within the confines of the casing 1aand adapted for pivotal adjustment by means of a support and hangerarrangement similar to that employed in the previously described squareform of outlet.

A longitudinal support strap 38 extends across the longer dimension ofthe neck opening of the casing and is provided with a pair of downwardlyprojecting foot portions 15 which are secured to the short side walls36, 36 respectively. The reflectors R R are attached to the supportstrap 38 by means of U-shaped hangers 17 and bearing clips 23 describedbeforehand. Similar sus pension means are provided for the trapezoidaldeflectors R R Due to the relatively longer length of these deflectors,it is desirable to use at least two cross support straps 39 and therebysuspend each deflector R with two U-shaped hangers 17.

'It will be understood that the function and adjustment of therectangular outlet is similar to that of the square unit, as describedpreviously.

The outlet illustrated in FIGURE 7 shows both of the deflectors R R inthe closed position, that is, with the bottom edges 25 sealed againstthe upper portion of the respective side walls 36, 36 adjacent the neckopening.

This adjustment blocks the passage of any of the supply air from theshort sides of the outlet, while the upturned flanges 35 prevent thepassage of air over the vertex areas 24 of the deflectors.

The deflectors R R are shown in the open position whereby the top edges4t) are adjacent the support member 33 and the bottom edges 41 arespaced apart from the walls 37 to form passageways for directiong thesupply air out of the long sides of the outlet.

In order to prevent the passage of air over the equilateral side edges42 of the long deflectors R R when they are in the closed position,right angle flanges i-3 are provided on the upper surface of deflectorsR R These flanges 43 extend from the top edge 40 for a substantialdistance along the side edges 42 to serve the same function as theflanges 35 on the triangular deflectors. Flange members are not requiredalong the top edges 40, for when the long deflectors R R are in theclosed position the air striking the upper surface of these deflectorsis directed to the opposite side of the unit due to the relativelygreater length of the long deflectors.

Any suitable type of damper means may be used in connection with thepresent invention to regulate the total overall volume of air to besupplied to the outlet. FIG- URE 1 indicates, as an example, a damper 44disposed within the lower portion of the neck extension 4.

As in the square form of the invention, the deflectors R R may beadjusted to deliver a. plurality of diffusion patterns according to theair distribution requirements of the particular enclosure involved.FIGURE 7 illustrates only one of the possible adjustments whereindeflectors R R are in the closed position with the bottom edges 25 insealing engagement with the upper portion of the short side walls 36 toblock the discharge of air from the short sides of the outlet, whiledeflectors R R are fully opened with the bottom edges 41 spaced apartfrom the long side walls 37 to permit diffusion of the entire supply airfrom the longer sides of the outlet.

I claim:

1. A directional control for an air distribution outlet, comprising, acasing having a plurality of slanting side walls arranged to provide asubstantially rectangular opening, a plurality of separate deflectors,movable independently of each other, at least a pair of which are ofsubstantially flat triangular formation with their apical portionsinclined toward the axis of the opening, a separate pivot on eachdeflector located substantially in the medial portion of the top surfacethereof, means carried by the casing for supporting said pivot means topermit adjustment of said deflectors from a closed to an open positionwhereby said deflectors are disposed substantially parallel to theirrespective side walls and have their apical portions disposed at acommon point, and air diverting means on the top surface of saiddeflectors at the apical portions thereof to prevent the passage of airunder the apical portions when the deflectors are tilted downwardly in aclosed position, whereby each of the separate deflectors maybe adjustedto either an open or closed position independently of the position ofeach of the other of said deflectors to selectively provide numerous airdistribution patterns through said outlet.

2. A directional control for an air distribution outlet according toclaim 1, wherein said side walls comprise downwardly and outwardlyinclined surfaces, each of said deflectors mounted within the confinesof said casing and in opposed relationship to one of said walls.

3. A directional control for an air distribution outlet according toclaim 1, wherein said air diverting means on said deflectors comprisesupturned flanges adjacent the apical portion of said deflectors.

4. A directional control for an air distribution outlet, comprising, acasing having a plurality of slanting side walls arranged to provide asubstantially square opening, and opposite pairs of separate and flattriangular deflectors covering the areas of the opening and having theirapical portions disposed inclined toward the axis of the opening,separate pivot means located on the medial portion of each deflector topermit independent movement of each of said deflectors, means carried bythe casing for sup porting said pivot means to permit adjustment of saiddeflectors from a closed to an open position whereby said deflectors aredisposed substantially parallel to their respective side walls and havetheir apical portions disposed at a common point, and air divertingmeans on the top surface of said deflectors at the apical portionsthereof to prevent the passage of air under the apical portions when thedeflectors are tilted downwardly in a closed position, whereby each ofthe separate deflectors may be adjusted to either an open or closedposition independently of the position of each of the other of saiddeflectors to selectively provide numerous air distribution patternsthrough said outlet.

5. A directional control for an air distribution outlet according toclaim 5, wherein said supporting means are straps extending across theupper portion of said square opening, said straps provided with meansfor attachment to said casing such that the straps, pivot means, anddeflectors may be removed from said casing as a single integral unit.

6 A directional control for an air distribution outlet, comprising, acasing having a plurality of slanting side walls arranged to provide anelongated rectangular opening, a pair of separate and flat triangulardeflectors located at opposite ends of said opening, a pair of opposedtrapezoidal deflectors located between said triangular deflectors,separate pivot means attached to the medial portions of each of saiddeflectors to permit independent movement of each of said deflector-s,means carried by the casing for supporting said pivot means to permitadjustment of said deflectors from a closed to an open position wherebysaid deflectors are disposed substantially parallel to their respectiveside walls and have their apical portions disposed at a common point,and air diverting means on the top surface of said deflectors at theapical portions thereof to prevent the passage of air under the apicalportions when the deflectors are tilted downwardly in a closed position,whereby each of the separate deflectors may be adjusted 8 to either anopen or closed position independently of the position of each of theother of said deflectors to selectively provide numerous ai-rdistribution patterns through said outlet.

7. In an air distribution control apparatus, a rectangular casing of theshape of a truncated pyramid having slanting side walls and upper andlower openings, der ectors disposed between said opening and comprising,top air directing surfaces and bottom sealing edges, and air divertingmeans on the top surface of said deflectors at the apical portionsthereof to prevent the pasage of air under the apical portions when thedeflectors are tilted downwardly in a closed position, whereby each ofthe separate deflectors may be adjusted to either an open or closedposition independently of the position of each of the other of saiddeflectors to selectively provide numerous air distribution patternsthrough said outlet, support means within said upper opening, hangersconnected at one end to said support means and pivotally connected atthe other end to said deflectors, all of said deflectors cooperating toform an air directing unit encompassing a lateral area at least as greatas the area of said upper opening to provide directional control of allair projecting downwardly through said upper opening, each of saiddeflectors when in an open position having its top air directiongsurface substantially parallel to and in spaced apart relationship withits respective side Wall to form a downwardly sloping air passageway andwhen in a closed position having its bottom edge in sealing engagementwith the respective side wall, and diffuser means mounted within thelower opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,101,642 Lenling June 30, 1914 2,607,282 Gilbert Aug. 19, 19522,821,898 Kennedy Feb. 4, 1958 2,822,741 Kennedy Feb. 11, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 726,483 Germany Oct. 14, 1942

